Read Online A Hourse to Love by Marsha Hubler - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marsha Hubler
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man.
“Why are you here today?” asked Mr. Scott.
“I’m bringing myself up.”
“Okay, people. You heard that. She’s bringing herself up. Please give Melissa your undivided attention.”
Like magic, as soon as the words left Mr. Scott’s mouth every kid sat silent and focused on Melissa.
Skye slouched, watching the others. On the outside, her cool eyes surveyed the circle, while on the inside her mouth dropped open. What’s happening?
“Okay, Melissa. You have the floor,” Mr. Scott announced.
A panic-stricken Melissa slowly faced each kid in the room. Skye studied the scene, her eyes darting from Melissa to the other stone faces in the group.
“I’m bringing myself up because I snuck out of the house at midnight last week and ran away. I know that was wrong.” Her lips quivered as her fingers played with the short sleeves of her too-tight top.
“Why did you do that?” a teen with a head of tiny braids barked. He folded his arms and sat more erect in his chair.
“Because my old man — I mean my father — was drunk again.”
“Unacceptable!” the girl with the nose ring snapped. “Just because your old man was drunk, you ran away?”
Mr. Scott stepped forward. “It’s ‘father,’ not ‘old man,’ Pam.”
“Al right — father , ” Pam said. She smacked while chewing a giant wad of bubblegum. “C’mon, Melissa. Tel us why you ran.”
Skye gawked at them al . Man , this is tough , she thought. No way am I ever gonna do this. No way!
Melissa’s face reddened even more and her eyes fil ed with tears. “’Cause I’m afraid of him when he’s drunk.”
“Yeah, but why didn’t you cal Maranatha?” shouted a pudgy girl with a shaved head and ears lined with silver studs. “You know that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re in trouble. That’s the deal we made.”
“Yeah!” the entire circle repeated in sarcastic voices before they al fel silent.
Tears ran down Melissa’s face. “I know I should have cal ed instead of running away with Marty,” she sobbed, wiping her eyes with both hands. “That’s why I’m here. I know what I did was wrong. I’m asking you to forgive me.”
The circle of kids went silent.
“Did you hear that, ladies and gentlemen?” Mr.
Scott said. “She’s coming clean. She made a mistake and now she’s here to make things right. It takes a lot of courage to do that. What do you say?
Shal we forgive her?”
Without hesitation, every kid, including Skye who fol owed the rest, gathered around Melissa. Boys extended their hands to shake hers, some girls patted her on the back, and others hugged her.
“We forgive you, Melissa,” Pam said.
“You did good,” the guy with the braids said.
Others echoed with “you’re okay now,” or “we’re with you al the way.” I C was over, and Melissa smiled.
Skye stood back, total y shocked by what she had seen. Never before had she witnessed anybody fess up and real y mean it — in front of a group no less!
She studied Melissa’s peaceful, relieved face.
Maranatha was definitely different. But Skye hadn’t decided whether that was a good or bad thing.
Mr. Scott spoke above the chatter. “Please be seated. Except you, Melissa. Stay here.” He gestured for her to stand next to him and then whispered in her ear. She nodded. The group fel silent.
“Melissa has something else she’d like to say,” Mr. Scott added. “Go ahead, Melissa.” With stil -glistening eyes, Melissa now beamed with newfound hope. “After they found Marty and me last week, I realized that what I’ve been learning here at Maranatha is the truth. I decided to come clean not only with the staff here but also with God. I accepted Christ into my life, and he’s helping me see things a whole different way. He’s becoming the best friend I ever had. I wish you al would try it. It’s so cool.”
“I think from now on you’l see a whole different Melissa,” Mr. Scott said. He shook Melissa’s
“Why are you here today?” asked Mr. Scott.
“I’m bringing myself up.”
“Okay, people. You heard that. She’s bringing herself up. Please give Melissa your undivided attention.”
Like magic, as soon as the words left Mr. Scott’s mouth every kid sat silent and focused on Melissa.
Skye slouched, watching the others. On the outside, her cool eyes surveyed the circle, while on the inside her mouth dropped open. What’s happening?
“Okay, Melissa. You have the floor,” Mr. Scott announced.
A panic-stricken Melissa slowly faced each kid in the room. Skye studied the scene, her eyes darting from Melissa to the other stone faces in the group.
“I’m bringing myself up because I snuck out of the house at midnight last week and ran away. I know that was wrong.” Her lips quivered as her fingers played with the short sleeves of her too-tight top.
“Why did you do that?” a teen with a head of tiny braids barked. He folded his arms and sat more erect in his chair.
“Because my old man — I mean my father — was drunk again.”
“Unacceptable!” the girl with the nose ring snapped. “Just because your old man was drunk, you ran away?”
Mr. Scott stepped forward. “It’s ‘father,’ not ‘old man,’ Pam.”
“Al right — father , ” Pam said. She smacked while chewing a giant wad of bubblegum. “C’mon, Melissa. Tel us why you ran.”
Skye gawked at them al . Man , this is tough , she thought. No way am I ever gonna do this. No way!
Melissa’s face reddened even more and her eyes fil ed with tears. “’Cause I’m afraid of him when he’s drunk.”
“Yeah, but why didn’t you cal Maranatha?” shouted a pudgy girl with a shaved head and ears lined with silver studs. “You know that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re in trouble. That’s the deal we made.”
“Yeah!” the entire circle repeated in sarcastic voices before they al fel silent.
Tears ran down Melissa’s face. “I know I should have cal ed instead of running away with Marty,” she sobbed, wiping her eyes with both hands. “That’s why I’m here. I know what I did was wrong. I’m asking you to forgive me.”
The circle of kids went silent.
“Did you hear that, ladies and gentlemen?” Mr.
Scott said. “She’s coming clean. She made a mistake and now she’s here to make things right. It takes a lot of courage to do that. What do you say?
Shal we forgive her?”
Without hesitation, every kid, including Skye who fol owed the rest, gathered around Melissa. Boys extended their hands to shake hers, some girls patted her on the back, and others hugged her.
“We forgive you, Melissa,” Pam said.
“You did good,” the guy with the braids said.
Others echoed with “you’re okay now,” or “we’re with you al the way.” I C was over, and Melissa smiled.
Skye stood back, total y shocked by what she had seen. Never before had she witnessed anybody fess up and real y mean it — in front of a group no less!
She studied Melissa’s peaceful, relieved face.
Maranatha was definitely different. But Skye hadn’t decided whether that was a good or bad thing.
Mr. Scott spoke above the chatter. “Please be seated. Except you, Melissa. Stay here.” He gestured for her to stand next to him and then whispered in her ear. She nodded. The group fel silent.
“Melissa has something else she’d like to say,” Mr. Scott added. “Go ahead, Melissa.” With stil -glistening eyes, Melissa now beamed with newfound hope. “After they found Marty and me last week, I realized that what I’ve been learning here at Maranatha is the truth. I decided to come clean not only with the staff here but also with God. I accepted Christ into my life, and he’s helping me see things a whole different way. He’s becoming the best friend I ever had. I wish you al would try it. It’s so cool.”
“I think from now on you’l see a whole different Melissa,” Mr. Scott said. He shook Melissa’s
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